BANTAM FOWLS. The smaller-varieties of poultry are generally known under the name of bantams. They are not especially valuable, being kept entirely as pets or for ornament. Dwarf fowls have been known since the time of Pliny, who says of them: They are extraordi It is commonly known as Lady-slipper, and Touch ine-not, from the habit of the ripe pods suddenly tying open upon being touched, and casting their seeds to some distance. This plant must not be confounded with the stemless Cypripidiam- --a semi-aquatic plant, also called Lady-slipper. Many of the new varieties are quite beautiful. The plant is also attractive, especially when properly trained by pinching or pruning. The cut shows a double flower full size, also a plant in flower, pruned to three branches; and still another with the side branches shortened in by pinching back. The whole genus are killed with the shiptest narily small, and yet fruitful. Aldovrandus describes a dwarf hen, and Willoughby, in 1678, says of bantams, that they are called trigs. Since the date mentioned, they have become common, and during the last century many new varieties have been originated, so that there are now bantams of all, the principal breeds. Those
in most repute, however, are the Game Bantam, the White, the Black: and the Seabright or Gold and Silver-laced Bantams. So there are bantams of the Asiatic fowls, Cuckoo Bantams and Japanese Bantams. the latter the most curious of all. The cut shows the Golden Seabright Ban tam, the only difference between these and the Silver Bantams being, that the first is marked with yellow, while the latter is marked with white lacings. The Game Bantams are, without doubt, among the finest specimens of bantams, as they are the smallest; and yet a cockerel, not larger than a pigeon, will drive one of the large Asiatic breeds. The Game Bantams should be exact and diminutive representatives of the large breed of games they are to represent, whether Black-red, Brown-red, Duckwings or Pile Game Bantams. The smaller these are the better, and to reduce the size it is usual to rear chickens from late fall broods. For competition, cocks must weigh less than twenty-four ounces, and hens less, than twenty ounces each.